Method of manufacturing automobile identification devices



Jan. 10, 1928. 1,655,484

w. H. WHEELER IETHOD OI IANUFACTURING AUTOMOBILE IDENTIFICATION DEVICES Filed NOV- 26. 1923 INVENTOR wiwiwn J't'. whee Ler ATTORNEY areas in the surface of the Patented Jan. 10, 1928.

WILLIAM H. WHEELER) or enemies; n'nwanns'niinssrnon, BY asses As PORATION or nnnawenng,

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Application filed'li'ovemherl26', 1923. s rial No. 677,018.

This invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing automobile identification devices of the general character disclosed in my Serial Nos. 662,280 and 662,231, dated September 12, 1923.

In the foregoing applications, different methods have been describedof producing vari-colored effects on the surface of an iden- -tification plate.

One of the above noted applications, namely, Serial No. 622,230, shows a plate embodying different colored effects, which have been produced by building up a composite plate of a number of sheets of different colored metals, and then subjecting said plate to a process whereby the various metals are caused to appear in different plate.

A somewhat different method of obtaining the desired colors has been shown inmy application, Serial No. 677,017, dated November 26, 1923. In this instance, the color effects have been made to appear by first heat-treating the plate at atemperature known to produce a certain colored oxide, and then after grinding off certain portions of such oxidized surface, again heat-treating the plate at a different temperature so as to produce an oxide of a differentv color on the ground off surfaces without affecting the color of the first oxide. a

The aim of the present invention isto produce an identification plate having a multi-colored surface without resorting to.

the above noted methods of producing the same and to simplify the process of manufacture.

Another object of this invention isv to produce the plates in such a manner that they may be quickly and cheaply manufactured on a large scale and at the same time be. very difiicult to reproduce on a small scale by an unauthorized person without involving great labor and the use of expensive apparatus.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an identification device for use principally with automobiles and which will prevent in large measure the undetected theft thereof.

One practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the drawingsforming a part of this application and in which:

co-pending applications,

3 i Fig 11 is; a perspective view showing: one

of the stagesin the formationof my identification plate,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing another stage, and

Fig. 3 is a view of the finished plate.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 10 indicates a plate of suitable proportions which is adapted to be secured to the frame or engine block of an automobile, the surface of the plate having been oxidized to produce a color thereon, indicated by 11. Embossednumerals 12 are formed on the plate prior to thecolor treatment and, in the next operation (Fig. 2) have their surfaces ground off so as to allow the original color of the plate metal to appear through the background as at 13. I

I have found that by subjecting the oxidized surface of a plate topressure it'is pos sible to change the color of said surface to a degree depending upon the amount of pressure brought to bear thereon. Iam unable to explain with any degree of certainty why saidchange of color takes place. How ever, I am inclined to believe that the color is altered by a physical or astructural changes Since such portions of the plate as are under a greater pressure in the embossing operation, are rendered thinner than other portions, the thickness of the oxide is also rendered thinner. In other words,

' there is an outward flow of metal from under the embossing die, which serves to spread the oxidized surface in such a way as to produce a change in its light reflecting surface, whereas the parts which are not subjected to so high a pres'sureiare compacted rather than spread out, so that the original color of the oxide ispreserved and, if'anything, intensified. I have found, for instance, that a nickel surface oxidized to give a blue color, will, when subjected to pressure in the embossing die, change its color from blue to a brownish tone in the background portions of the embossed design, i. e.,

in those portions which are subjected to a higher pressure. Utilizing this principle and by subjecting certain portions of the surfacearea of a plate to the pressure of background of a different shade on the sunken portions 16whioh havebeen under pressure. 4 7

Thus, it will be seen that an embossing operation and color changing process are performed at the same time, doing away with steps heretofore found necessary in producing a plate of this character.

The cost of manufacture has been conse; quently reduced and the production problem very much simplified I i r r The finished product disclosed in Fig. 3 embodies a two color efl'ectcomprising dark embossed areas 15 and the lighter background 16. The numerals 12 which are of 1 I claim:

A process of producing a vari-colored embossed plate Which consists in oxidizing a plate, and subjectingthe plate to an embossing operation under a pressure sufficient tochange the color of the more deeply impressed parts of the plate surface.

WILLIAM H. WHEELER. 

